Ku Klux Klan Costumes Spark Outrage

The Ottawa Sun

When Grade 12 student Mira Tshilombo walked into school yesterday, she wasn't surprised to see many people dressed up in costumes -- after all, it was Halloween.

But what shocked the Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School student was that she saw at least three of her peers dressed up in Ku Klux Klan white robes, pointed hoods and carrying a noose in the main foyer of the building.

"I asked someone, '(Are they) seriously wearing that?'" said Tshilombo, who is black.

She approached one of the girls and asked why she chose to put on that garb.

LOGO ON CHEST

"They said they were just doing it to make fun of the KKK," said Tshilombo.

She said there was no doubt these were costumes of the hate-inciting group -- the white robes even had a KKK logo on the chest.

She spoke to the vice-principal who initially told her it was simply a Halloween costume.

"He said I shouldn't take it personally. It's a joke. It's not a joke. He said there are people dressed up like the Grim Reaper. How can you compare the Grim Reaper to racism?" she asked.

"It's like going to a Jewish school dressed up like Nazis and expecting them not to be offended.

"A girl who dressed up as a Playboy Bunny got suspended for it (in 2006)," she added. "But a girl who dresses up as the KKK, nothing is done about it until people's parents start calling."

When asked by Sun Media about the choice of costume, one of the young girls replied she got the idea from her aunt, who wore it to a Halloween party.

When the students went to the Cornwall Square for lunch, they were asked to take off the costumes or leave, confirmed manager Chris Savard.

One student, Chris Sabourin, thought the costumes were "stupid" and "offensive."

"It ruins the fun to dress up like that," said Sabourin.

A mother of a student, who didn't want to be identified, said she was shocked to see the costumes when she dropped her daughter off at school. She was so upset she pulled her daughter out of school and called the police.

"I saw the white sheets and I thought, 'Surely they were dressed up as ghosts,' '' she said. "I think these students should be expelled."

Cornwall police spokesman Blake Paquin said no laws were broken and no threats made.

NOTHING MALICIOUS

Principal Brenda Beaudette said she doesn't believe the students, who were asked to remove the outfits sometime after lunch, meant anything malicious by wearing the KKK costumes.

"This was poor judgment on part of the students," Beaudette said. "There are many things students can choose to dress up as, but most students understand where the line is."

Tshilombo is upset because she feels the school did very little when she brought up the issue.

"People get in trouble if they make fun of gays, so why can't they get in trouble if they make fun of other races?" she questioned.

Anita Bromberg, of B'nai B'rith, a Jewish service organization, says she was shocked that school administrators didn't understand that a strong response was in order.

"That educators wouldn't take immediate, swift action to set the right tone in the school -- given the reality of the resurgence of hate groups and the potential for violence in schools -- is very disturbing."

But the school board believes the school handled the situation appropriately.

"The students made poor choices, but we feel this is a good learning opportunity to move forward and we would support that," said Ted Kennedy, superintendent with the Upper Canada District School Board.

Bernadette Clement, a Cornwall city councillor who is also black, said while she doesn't doubt there was no malicious intent involved, she was still "disturbed" by it.

"It's important for young people to understand the ugly history behind that," said Clement.

"It's not just a costume -- it can send a disturbing message to people of colour." [x]

See, it's shit like this that I don't understand. Girl gets suspended for dressing up as a "Playboy Bunny" but when a group of students dress up as the KKK, not only do they not get in trouble for it but their actions are validated by ignorant ass excuses.

"The students made poor choices, but we feel this is a good learning opportunity to move forward and we would support that," said Ted Kennedy, superintendent with the Upper Canada District School Board.

What the fuck is that supposed to mean? How exactly are these students "moving forward" with anything? They didn't receive any repercussions for their actions, so how exactly is it that they're learning a lesson? SMH.